September 13th, 2013


The gaping maw of Karrimor

So there's this thing going round where people post photos of the stuff they carry around with them. Most people so far seem to be those organised types that actually take things out of their bags when they get home, and so only really carry the stuff they've decided on for any given day.

I am not those people. I was brought up to consider contingencies, and this has led to carrying all sorts of crap I 'might need'. Also, I'm a bit absentminded so it's often easier for me to just have a thing in my bag all the time rather than try to remember to put stuff in on specific occasions. This is the result.

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Yesterday, while I was walking down Taranaki, a guy going the other way said "Hey!" So I turned, and he said "You look beautiful." I was all O.o and mumbled "Thank you" and stumbled on. I heard over my shoulder as I went, "I've noticed you before..."

I want to feel flattered and complimented. I was wearing my matrix raincoat with the hot pink lining, and because of the pink in my hair and (oh shit I'm that person!) pink top, I was a study in pink and black contrast. So I probably did look.. effective? I'm sure the guy meant to be nice, and if he'd stopped with the compliment I'd be fine with it. Yes, yes, what gives men the idea they have the right to comment on my appearance, I'm a person not a decoration etc etc, but I actually think that complimenting people in a genuine way is part of the grease that keeps the wheels of community turning, and isn't always coming from a place of privilege and patriarchy. Sometimes folks are just being nice, you know, and I'm happy to take that at face value.

But that last comment creeped me out just a little. Probably wasn't meant to, it was probably meant as a follow up nice thing to say, but what it did was make me uncomfortable enough so I took a different way to work today to avoid running into the guy again. I'm not afraid that he'll suddenly try to grab me or anything, but part of me fears he'd try to talk to me again, and then it'd be weird and awkward and I have no idea if I'm being paranoid or not, but I really wish he'd stopped after the first bit and let it rest at that.

The world's a pretty messed up place if someone being nice has me feeling like that eh? Or maybe it's just my head.

I know not everyone who reads this is a gamer

But a lot of you are, and a lot of you are into RPGs, and a lot of you like story-driven gameplay, and a lot of you also happen to be women.


So imagine the thrill I got when Ambrov X came on my radar. The first thing I saw at the top of their Kickstarter page was.. a woman. A female protagonist, featured in their marketing as default. This is a game that allows you to choose the gender of your protagonist, and they chose to feature women! OMG.






